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GSP receives 3 transit system bids

Two unnamed international firms have advanced to the next stage of a preliminary process of determining the feasibility and affordability of building a personal rapid transportation system at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

Three companies submitted tentative proposals, according to Dave Edwards, president and CEO of GSP. Edwards would not reveal the names of any of the three vendors, only to say that the two that advanced were international firms and the third was domestic.

“We still have a little bit of work do to in June to see if those vendors can meet our requirements,” Edwards said. “If they can, we will call them pre-qualified and a contractor can put one of both of them on the team.”

He said one company had a bid of $15 million and the second international firm bid was $20 million. Edwards said $20 million was the cap the airport wants to spend on the project – if it does happen. The rejected bid was upwards of $30 million, according to Edwards.

Both advanced bids include pod cars on an elevated track from the terminal to the economy lot. Both include possibility of going to ground or staying elevated and the construction of a maintenance facility specifically for the pod cars.

Now, airport officials will get additional questions surrounding bids answered from the two companies. Edwards said if one of both of the companies are deemed qualified, they will advance to the full airport board which will meet in July.

The airport is in the middle of its Wingspan project – a $125 million terminal improvement project. A centralized screening area was recently opened inside the terminal as part of the project.